Inside Iowa State

Sept. 12, 2008

Council talks policy

by Erin Rosacker

Professional and Scientific Council members whipped through their Sept. 4 agenda, approving four items of business:

• A resolution in support of a campus smoke-free policy (37-1-0). The policy, still in development, will reflect Iowa's new smoke-free air law, which banned smoking virtually everywhere on campus as of July 1.
• A council response to the Faculty Senate's proposed sponsored funding policy (31-1-3). A council ad hoc committee recommended further discussion before implementation of the policy, which impacts P&S researchers.
• A motion changing the bylaws to give officer status and voting rights in council meetings to the past-president (31-4-1).
• A motion for language updates in the policy dealing with dismissal of P&S employees due to reorganization or financial conditions (34-2-0).

A resolution was approved supporting the draft policy governing employment verification and background checks. It will be voted on in October.

The policy requires background checks (including reference checks, criminal histories and verification of academic credentials) during the hiring process for faculty and staff positions. Undergraduate and graduate student hires, and some temporary positions, are not included.

"This is a fairly far-reaching policy," said Kevin DeRoos, chair of the council's policies and procedures committee.

The policy is available for public comment in the policy library through Sept. 30.

Council members will take a look at the draft policy governing employment verification and background checks and vote on a resolution in October.